Independence Day 5k helps make Moberly's CC a winner

Chuck Embree

Friday

Jul 6, 2018 at 6:00 AM

The sounds of 106 sets of feet striking the paved road through Moberly's Rothwell Park early Wednesday morning, as well as wheeled strollers carrying young toddlers, could be heard as this contingent of runners and walkers took part in the 27th Annual Independence Day 5k Run/Walk.

This major fundraiser for Moberly High School's cross country team continues to be orchestrated by volunteer Todd Beaverson, a longtime supporter of the program.

“The cross country runners are a great group of kids and it happens to be most successful sports program as a team in winning a state trophy and the many state medals won by individual runners that Moberly's high school has ever had,” Beaverson said. “I love the sport, and if there is anything I can do to help them, I try to do it whether its putting on this annual Independence Day race as a fundraiser or me working out with the kids during the summertime. I really enjoy doing this.”

Proceeds of the estimated $4,700 raised from this year's 5K event after expenses are paid will support a college scholarship of $1,000 awarded each year to a Moberly senior cross country runner selected by a committee. Beaverson noted that for the first time there were two Moberly seniors, Allison Aleshire and Kati Dalton, each received a $1,000 scholarship.

The fundraiser also helps defray expenses for an overnight stay by team members when the group takes a lengthy trip for competition during the fall season, the purchase of healthy beverages and food given to the runners following a race.

“Another thing how this money is used is to purchase good cross country running shoes for kids who do not have the money to buy their own. Each year I tell the kids that if they do not have the means to buy the shoes, to come to me in private and I take money out of the account to buy them the shoes,” Beaverson said. “There is almost one and sometimes two local kids each year that come to me and this is kept private between the two of us. I want people who make donations toward this program a sense of accomplishment and personal satisfaction in knowing how their money is being spent and how it is helping the kids.”

Prizes were awarded to the top three finishers of each age division for both males and females, and there were many door prizes given out to participants after the race was over.

Alex Fincher and Isabella Ross, who will be a senior and sophomore at Moberly High School this fall, were the overall male and female first place runners and each received a blue leather pull-over jacket for their effort.

Fincher's winning time was 18:11 minutes and following him were a couple of male graduates from Northeast R-IV School at Cairo; Zach McAdams at 20:00 and Daniel Hunsaker at 21:47 minutes.

Meanwhile, Ross was the fourth person and the first female to cross the finish line and her time was 22:59.

“I have to be honest; I saw those leather jackets as the prize for the overall winners and that motivated me to run and take first. Those jackets are really good-looking,” Fincher said. “But even if the jacket wasn't a prize I still would be participating because it's for a good cause and its fun. Todd Beaverson is someone special to me as he has helped me the past couple or three years so I do this for him as well. It's really good to see so many people out here helping the school program, there are some really young kids out here and some much older people here too and I can really appreciate that.”

Following graduation in May of 2019, Alex plans to attend Central Christian College of the Bible and study music.

Ross said she was disappointed in her time, and uses this 5k event as an educational marker for her summer workout plans.

“I participate in this 5k because it shows me if I've improved and it shows me where I'm at, allowing me to learn if I need to make changes to improve before the high school season begins” said Ross. “My time today tells me that I have a lot of work to do. I was finishing a 5k at around 20 minutes and I am way off that pace.”

Here is a look at the top three finishers along with their recorded time of each age/gender division of the 2018 Independence Day 5k Run/Walk.

There were at least four toddlers being pushed in a stroller who were the youngest participants. The oldest male participant, 82-year old Charles Brazeale of Paris, has participated in all 27 Independence Day running events. JeanAnn Roth, 74, of Huntsville, was the oldest female and she has participated for 16 consecutive years.

“I appreciate my family and some friends so much for pitching in to help me. There is no way I could put this event on without their help. My wife Dawn does the registration and documenting the order of finishers and times of the participants. My brother Tony operates the finish chute of the race. My daughters Katie and Taylor and their families were there helping. My niece Annie and her kids were handing out water to everyone once they finished the race,” Todd said. “We once again received great financial support from businesses and other people who were sponsors. It is great to see such community support.”

Long distance running remains on the workout ledger for both Fincher and Ross, as well as a handful of other area prep athletes that partake of a volunteer program offered by Beaverson.

Every Monday, Wednesday and Friday during the summertime Beaverson welcomes high school athletes from the area to join him at a designated area in Rothwell Park at around 6:30 a.m. for a 3-to-4 mile running workout.

“I've been doing this for years. There are kids from Moberly, Cairo, Salisbury and we've even had some from Glasgow show up sometimes to run with us,” Beaverson said. “As the summer progresses our mileage goes up to seven miles or more to help them better prepare to go into their high school cross country season.”

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